WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday that lawmakers should act quickly to approve disaster relief for victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Senate Majority Leader Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) attends a news conference following party policy lunch meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

“I look forward to the House sending over legislation so that the Senate can act on it as soon as possible,” McConnell, a Republican, told the Senate. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to start consideration of a first tranche of aid, about $8 billion, on Wednesday.

McConnell said passing hurricane relief, preventing a default on government debt and avoiding a shutdown of the government were the immediate priorities as Congress resumed its work after an August break. “We have to get all three of these things done and we have to do it very quickly.”